What do the High Elves really think of Men?

[CSteefel]

While the comments of Lindir are interesting, as several have pointed out, they can be interpreted in several different ways.

More interesting to me are the actions of those Elves when faced with a choice about how to value men. Here we have significant extremes, ranging from Thingol (Beren is not worthy, although this is perhaps understandable given the lack of any Immortal blood) to Elrond (less understandable, since Aragorn is traced back to both his own brother Elros, and to Luthien herself through Elwing), to Finrod, who gave his life to save Beren.

It seems that the Edain were enlisted relatively early in the service of the Noldor, with Tuor's father Huor giving his life to provide a rear guard action to save Turgon, while Hurin was taken into captivity for 30 years or so during the same action. Thingol, in contrast, had little opportunity to appreciate men before Beren (or Hurin) arrived.